Buratai warns troops against rights violations

The Chief of Army Staff COAS), Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has warned troops against violating human rights during operations in and outside the country.

Buratai gave the warning while addressing officers and soldiers at the headquarters of 82 Division of Nigeria Army in Enugu yesterday.

He charged the soldiers involved in internal security operations to confine themselves to the provision of the law at all times, adding that any erring personnel would be decisively dealt with in accordance with the relevant military and civil laws.

“Our rules of engagement during security operations touch on the observation of human rights at all times. You must behave professionally, protect lives and uphold the dignity of humans during all your operations.

“If you apply all the rules of engagement and still have cause to open fire as a last resort, then you will be protected by the constitution. We will, however, not tolerate or protect anyone, who in the course of any operation, violates such provisions of the constitution,” he said.